"Getting Started"

Southminster's piano restoration project

The restoration project of the Heintzman grand piano at Southminster United Church is described in this article in the Ottawa Citizen, accompanied by a short video:

http://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/the-southminster-piano-new-life-breathed-into-a-vintage-grand

Several members of OPG played on this instrument at a past session, as well as at a master class that was led by Roland Graham.

Report from the December 13, 2015 session

Another year of piano music has come to a close with the last session of 2015. A group gathered at John's home and played the following pieces, which included a number of seasonal arrangements:

Round 1
- Karin: “Polonaise in G minor”  by F. Chopin (Op. B.1) (composed when he was 7!)
- Sebastien: “Untitled”, own composition
- Greg: “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring” by J.S. Bach
- Irina: “Waltz” by F. Chopin  (Op. 69 #2)
- Janice S: “Invention no. 6” by J. S. Bach (BWV 777)
- Amieke: “Berceuse” by F. Chopin (Op. 57)
- Francine: “Homecoming” by Hagood Hardy
- Winnie: “O Holy Night” by A. Adam
- John: “10 composers in 6 minutes” -arrangement of “Jingle Bells” in the styles of 10 composers.

Round 2
- Greg: “Prelude in D, #4 of Six little Preludes” by J. S. Bach
- Sebastien: Improvisation on “Misty” by Errol Garner
- Amieke: “Novelette in C major”: by F. Poulenc
- Janice S: “ Invention no. 8” by J. S. Bach (BWV 779)
- Irina: “Italian Polka” by S. Rachmaninoff
- Sebastien: Improvisation on “Stompin’ at the Savoy” by Edgar Sampson
- John: “Sweet Holiness”, own composition

If your resolutions for the new year include playing more piano, or getting more comfortable playing in front of a small audience of like-minded peers, join us in 2016! For details, see the About the Ottawa Piano Group link at the side of this page.

OPG mentioned in the Ottawa Citizen

The Ottawa Piano Group was mentioned in the Ottawa Citizen in an article about various groups trying out the pianos at the new store in town:

http://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/steinways-secret-to-success-let-the-people-play

Report from the November 15, 2015 session

Host: Karin

Thanks to Karin for hosting and sharing her two splendid pianos... a German Grotrian Steinweg upright and a 1912 Pleyel 5'6" grand.  From the title of a book of sheet music, our new group motto is Keep Calm and Play On (or variations thereof).

Here's what was played.

Karin, Greg — Haydn, Hungarian Rondo from Piano Concerto in D, two piano transcription by Denes Agay
Karin, Greg — Bill Dooley, Meet Frankie and Johnny, two piano arrangement by Denes Agay
Julie — Moszkowski, Étude No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 72 No. 2
Lorraine — Schumann, selections from Carnaval, Op. 9
John — own arrangement, O Holy Night
Barb — Mikhail Glinka, Variations on a Russian Song Among the Gentle Valley
Christopher —  Clementi, Sonatina in D Major, Op. 36 No. 6
Francine — Henri Bertini, Étude, Op. 29 No. 7
Janice — Satie, Gymnopédies No. 1, 2 and 3
Sachie — Chopin, Preludes, Op. 28 No. 6 and 7
David — Rachmaninoff, Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14, with cello recording by Luca Sulic

2nd round:
John — own arrangement, Huron Carol and We Three Kings
Christopher — Patrick Hawes, Towards The Light
Julie — Yann Tiersen, Comptine d'Été No. 2

Report from the October 18, 2015 session

Host: Ottawa Pianos

Round 1:

- Janice G.: “Scherzo”, by Clara Schumann (op. 10)
- Greg Z.: “Song without words (Daybreak)”, by F. Mendelssohn (op 64 #2)
- Karin T.: “Andantino from Second Ballade”, by F. Chopin (op. 38)
- Lynda J.: “Lied ohne ende” by Robert Schumann, (op. 124 #8)
- Liz (via Skype): “6th  Gnossienne” by E. Satie
- Gared L. : “Etude (the ocean)” by F. Chopin (op. 25 #2)
- John W.: 2 songs, “God and You” (for pre-teens) and “Be grateful” (for teens), original compositions.
- Sachie B.: Preludes, by F. Chopin (op 28# 1,3 and 4)
- Julie E.: “Etude” by M. Moszkowski (op. 72 #1)
- Francine F.:”Suite in G major” by Joseph Hector Fiocco (op. 1  #1)
- Nick B.: “Sonata #5, second movement, by L. Beethoven (op. 10 #1) (note: this piece has 1/128th notes)
- Lorraine: “Rialto Ripples” by George Gershwin

Round 2:

- Janice G.: “Berceuse” by F. Chopin (op. 57)
- Gared L.: ”Mischief”, and another with an undecided title, possibly “Dreams”, original compositions
- John W.: “Cat’s up a tree”, original composition.
- Nick B.: “Fugitive Visions” by S. Prokofiev (composed 1917) (op. 22#1) 

Report from the September 20, 2015 session

Host: Gared

A small group gathered at Gared's home and played a wide variety of music, including a number of contemporary works. We also chatted about piano teachers, piano buying, and technology in today's pianos and teaching methodologies.

Round 1:

- Gregory: “Reverie” by C. Debussy
- Julie: “La Valse d’Amélie” by Yann Tiersen
- Gared: “The Boisterous Chipmunk” (own composition)
- Darlene: “Prelude Op. 11 #5” by A. Scriabin
- David and Christopher (duet): “Sonata Op. 6, 2nd Movement” by L. van Beethoven

Round 2:

- Gared: “Prelude Op. 25 #2” by F. Chopin
- Gregory: “Fly me to the moon” by Bart Howard
- Christopher: “I Giorni” by Ludovico Einaudi
- Julie: “Comptine d’été #2” by Yann Tiersen
- Darlene: Selections from “Variations on the theme Salve tu domine” by W. A. Mozart
- David: “Nocturne Op. 9 #2” by F. Chopin, SoundCloud recording of David playing this piece

Round 3:

- Gared: “Mischief”, “Shapeless dreams”, and “Mouse” (own compositions)

Online piano course strikes the right chord with an OPG member

Long-time group member Mary Ann reports that she is enrolled in a free online piano course that is transforming her whole approach to learning and playing piano. She is so excited to have stumbled upon it that she wants to let other pianists know about this great opportunity:

http://artofpianotechnique.com/

This system was created by a Russian pianist, Emma Leiuman, who holds a Moscow State conservatory degree. The new way of teaching is based on an imagination and singing approach. It helps every advanced and pro student to reach effortless and fluent playing with no technical limits and express themselves freely through playing. It's free of charge and available for everyone who has a great passion to play piano well. The program includes free books, videos, student journal, student videos, and teacher's individual feedback on student homework.

Thanks for the great tip, Mary Ann!

Report from the August 16, 2015 session

We had a wonderful time at Janice G's, playing on her 1918 grand piano. There were 11 of us, including a visitor from Alberta, Grace, who had also attended a previous session while visiting Ottawa.

Music played:

- Gregory Z: Tales from the Vienna Woods (selections), by Johann Strauss Jr. (Op. 325)
- Dianne S: Song without Words, by F. Mendelssohn (Op. 19#2)
- Lynda J: Grande Valse Brillante, by F. Chopin (Op. 18)
- Francine F: Prelude in E minor, by F. Chopin
- John W: Surprise Symphony, 3rd movement by J. Haydn
- Christopher C: Nocturne, by J. Sibelius (piano version, from "Belshazzar’s Feast")
- Jorge P: L’Allemande from L’Art de toucher de clavecin, by F. Couperin
- Julie E: Prelude and Fugue in F# major, Book 1, By J. S. Bach (BWV 858)
- Darlene H: Theme and Variations on Salve tu Domine (selections) by W. A. Mozart (Series 21#10, K398)
- Grace S: Polonaise in A major, by F. Chopin
- Janice G: Wireless Rag, by Adaline Shepherd

Report from the July 19, 2015 session

Host: Winnie

A fairly small group met at Winnie's house to play her beautiful piano. Afterwards, we were treated to tea and had an interesting discussion about improvisation, favourite composers, and other issues. We welcomed new member, Lorraine, who played her first piece for the group.

Main round:
- Winnie: Prelude #1 from the “Well-tempered Clavier” by J. S. Bach
- Gregory: Song without words, “Venetian Boat Song” Op. 19 #6 by F. Mendelssohn
- Lynda: Nocturne, Op. 37 #1 by F. Chopin
- Christopher: “River Flows in You” by Yiruma
- Lorraine: Prelude #22 from the “Well-tempered Clavier” by J. S. Bach
- John: Improvisation on the Hymn “O beautiful Gaia”

Additional performances:
- Gregory: “Traumerei” Op. 15 #7 by R. Schumann
- Lynda: “Nola” by Felix Arndt.
- John: Improvisation on Hymn “Nearer my God to Thee”, and improvisation of “Beautiful Dreamer”
- Gregory: Largo from Fantasie Impromptu by F. Chopin
- John: Improvisation on the black keys